Lake Tyrrell

Lake Tyrrell Wildlife Reserve, also known as Lake Tyrrell, is a vast salt lake located in the Mallee district of North-West Victoria, Australia.

Spanning over 20,860 hectares, it is the largest salt lake in Victoria. The lake is situated approximately 6 kilometres north of Sea Lake and 314 kilometres northwest of Melbourne. During the winter season, the lake is covered in about 5 centimetres of water due to percolation from the ground and inflows from the Avoca River.

Lake Tyrrell is an ancient lake believed to have formed around 120,000 years ago. Originally 13 metres deep with low salinity, it experienced fluctuations in water levels due to climatic changes. The first non-indigenous person to document the lake was explorer Edward Eyre in 1838.

The lake environment serves as a habitat for various wildlife, including reptiles, kangaroos, emus, and the white-fronted chat bird. Thousands of seagulls breed on small islands within the lake. Surrounding vegetation primarily consists of saltbush and samphire. The lunette to the east contains significant Aboriginal relics.

Lake Tyrrell offers a range of recreational activities for visitors. It is particularly popular among photographers and social media users who capture the lake's mirror-like surface during winter. During dry periods, people can walk on the lake. A lookout and astronomy deck have been built on the Sea Lake side of the lake, providing a panoramic view. Additionally, the lake hosts the Mallee Rally, a racing event, annually on the Queen's Birthday long weekend.